Mounting for articles of jewelry using integral leg elements

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed is directed to a mounting means for rearwardly mounting articles of jewelry in a simple and efficient manner by deforming integral leg elements projecting about the base of a mortise portion of the mounting means. Said elements may be of L-shape and simply bent to underlie the mounted article, or may be twisted pivotally to contact an article having a multisurfaced base portion.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Baryl Lenard Kenmore. N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 787,156 [22] Filed Dec. 26, 1968 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee Saturn Ring Mfg. Co., Inc.

Buffalo, N.Y.

[54] MOUNTING FOR ARTICLES OF JEWELRY USING INTEGRAL LEG ELEMENTS 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

(52] US. Cl 63/26, 29/10, 29/513, 29/1 60.6 [51] Int. Cl. A44c 17/02 [50] Field of Search 63/26, 29, 27. 28: 29/513, 10, 160.6

I 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 760,141 5/1904 McRae 63/26X Primary Examiner- F. Barry Shay Auorney--Eugene M. Bond ABSTRACT: The invention disclosed is directed to a mount ing means for rearwardly mounting articles of jewelry in a simple and efi'icient manner by deforming integral leg elements projecting about the base of a mortise portion of the mounting means. Said elements may be of L-shape and simply bent to underlie the mounted article, or may be twisted pivotally to contact an article having a multisurfaced base portion.

' PATENTED JUN 8B7! SHEET 1 UF 2 mvsmoa BARYL LENARD FIG. 3

BY 345mb MAJ ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUN alsn 34583178 sum 2 [1F 2 INVENTOB F/G.8 v I BARYL LENARD ATTORN Ev MOUNTING FOR ARTICLES F .IEW ELRY USING INTEGRAL LEG ELEMENTS This invention relates to improvements in mountings which are particularly useful for mounting articles ofjewelry such as gems, stones or the like in rings or related articles. More particularly, the present invention provides a new and novel mounting means for rearwardly mounting articles of jewelry including gems, stones or the like in finger rings in a simple and efficient manner which does not interfere with the display of the mounted article.

Numerous means are available to the art for mounting artieles of jewelry in, for example, finger rings. Typically, these mountings appear on the exposed surface of what may be described as a top mounted article and thereby the article mounted is impaired in appearance and display. Various mechanical means typically complex in construction are available to the art for rearwardly mounting articles ofjewelry such as for example, screw mountings, intricate clamping devices, and the like. None of the mounting means for rearwardly mounting articles of jewelry have presented a simple and effective way of mounting articles of jewelry without impairing the appearance and display of the mounted article or the comfort and overall appearance of the article which incorporates the mounting member. Typically, these units have not been versatile and have met with little commercial success. It has now been found that by the practice of the present invention there is provided a mounting means which includes features of construction and combination of elements which overcome, in a practical and simple manner, many of the defects apparent in means for rearwardly mounting articles of jewelry known to the art heretofore. The present mounting means is versatile in operation, simple in construction, and readily adaptable to variously shaped articles of jewelry such as gems, stones or the like.

Generally stated, the present invention provides a means for mounting articles ofjewelry such as stones, gems or the like in a simple and efficient manner which means includes a mortise for rearwardly receiving an article of jewelry and having integral leg elements projecting about the base of the mortise. The integral leg elements are constructed for pivotal movement relative to the integral attachment with the base of the mortise for clamping an article of jewelry therein desirably under slight pressure.

An article ofjewelry may be mounted by the present means by rearwardly inserting the article into the mortise having retaining surfaces which limit the complete penetration of the article therethrough. After the article is in proper position, it is clamped securely by the leg elements which are integral about the base of the mortise. The leg elements may be bended to clamping position by simple hand implements such as pliers or related implements employed for inserting and removing retaining members for articles ofjewelry such as gems, stones or the like.

The present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a finger ring prepared in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along section lines 2-2 of FIGS. 1 and related in the embodiment of FIG. 4, illustrating a preferred mounting means for use herein;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment mounting means for use in combination with the finger ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the preferred mounting means of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a preferred embodiment finger ring prepared by the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a leg element integral with the base ofa mortise;

FIG. 7 is a partial rear elevational view of a method by which the leg elements illustrated in FIG. 6 may securely retain a stone having multisurfaces disposed on the supported base portion thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along section lines 8-8 of FIG. 5, illustrating further a preferred embodiment mounting means of the present invention.

In the drawings wherein similar elements are referred to by similar numerals throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates finger ring 10 having crown portion 12 formed at its upper edge defining the exterior of a mortise described in detail hereinafter. Disposed within the mortise and rearwardly mounted is an article ofjewelry 14 illustrated as a letter bearing stone although it is recognized that most any gem or the like may be readily held in position for display within the mortise. In addition to the mortise, finger ring 10 includes an integral band 16 which serves as a support for the mortise. It is recognized that integral band 16 may be any desirable support including a bracelet, or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mounting means by which an article of jewelry 18 may be secured within mortise 20 having bearing surfaces 21 for supporting or retaining the article ofjewelry 18 which is held in position by leg elements 24 integral with the base of mortise 20. The bearing surfaces may be designed for retaining an article of jewelry as desired.

Leg elements 24 include base projections 25 forming an L- shaped or perpendicularly disposed support as elements thereof. Leg elements 24 may be mounted pivotal to the base of the mortise to permit movement away from the area to be occupied by the article of jewelry during the positioning sequence and thereafter, the leg elements may be pivoted into securing or article holding position for retaining the article of jewelry in proper position within the mortise. As illustrated in FIG. 2, mortise 20 may include supporting elements 26 which may be a finger ring band or other retaining elements as desired.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment means for retaining an article of jewelry 28 by leg elements 30 approximately parallel to each other and integral with mortise 34. Oppositely disposed and similarly secured are leg elements 32 also approximately parallel to each other and integral with mortise 34. Leg elements 30 and 32 appear integral with the base of mortise 34 and project in article holding position substantially parallel to the curvature or inner periphery of the finger ring as opposed to perpendicular thereto. It is found that the illustrated positioning of the leg elements is desirable and provides more opportunity for pivotal movement without interference resulting from the outer edge surfaces of the mortise. Nevertheless, it is recognized that the leg elements may be positioned in any desired number and in any desired position provided they appear integral with the base of the mortise and of a length sufficient to securely support an article ofjewelry within the mortise. Typically, however, four leg elements positioned as illustrated are sufficient for retaining an article of jewelry in position within the mortise.

FIG. 4 illustrates the preferred mounting means of the present invention having an article of jewelry 36 mounted by leg elements 38 approximately parallel to each other and differing from leg elements 30 and 32 by having perpendicularly disposed protrusions 40.

Oppositely disposed and similarly secured to leg elements 38 are leg elements 42 also approximately parallel to each other and of similar construction to leg elements 38 by including perpendicularly disposed protrusions 44. Leg elements 38 and 42 may be integrally secured to mortise 48 by adjoining projecting member 46 from the mortise and of a distance slightly longer than the length of projection of the article of jewelry 36 from the base of mortise 48 to assure adequate support of the article in proper position. Otherwise, leg elements 38 and 42 may appear in related positions and numbers such as described for leg elements 30 and 32.

It is found desirable for proper support of an article of jewelry 36 to have each pair of protrusions 40 and 44 projecting away from each other and substantially parallel to its opposite member. This means of mounting articles of jewelry permits the leg elements to be integral to the mortise at an inwardly disposed position and permits the protrusions to provide support to the outer edges of the mounted article within the mortise 48.

FIG. 5 illustrates finger ring 50 having an integral band 52 with crown portion 54 formed at its upper edge defining the exterior of a mortise. Disposed within the mortise and rearwnrdly mounted is an article ofjewelry 56 having a multisurfuced base portion as will be apparent hereinafter,

FIG. 6 shows as apurtiul perspective view an example of an L-ahaped leg element 58 as it may appear in original position integral with the base of mortise 54. Leg element 58 may be twisted pivotally to phantom position 60 for securing in position within the mortise, an article of jewelry rearwardly inserted therein.

FIG. 7 shows a method by which the present mounting may be used. Initially, mortise 54 is formed out of, for example, metal including precious metals and alloys thereof. lncluded with mortise 54 may be, if desired, supporting band 52. Projecting about the base of mortise 54 is a plurality of integral leg elements projecting therefrom. Although only four projecting leg elements are illustrated, it is recognized that three leg elements may be adequate in some situations whereas more than four leg elements may be adequate in other situations. As a practical consideration, four leg elements are usually considered sufficient. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, leg elements 58, 62, 66 and 70 which appear in the normal position may be twisted pivotally to phantom positions 60, 64, 68 and 72 respectively for supporting multisurfaced article of jewelry 56in position within mortise 54.

FIG. 8 further illustrates retention of the article of jewelry 56in position by leg elements 60 and 68 integral to the base of mortise 54.

It is obvious that practice of the present invention may be applied, in the manner described, to any ofa variety ofjewelry for personal adornment such as charms, armlets, clips, pcndants, buckles, bracelets or the like.

The present mounting means also permits the mounting of articles such as of different gems, stones or the like according to the desire of the user. In addition, the mounting means permits detachably mounting of articles while providing means for retaining the mounted article in proper position without impairing its appearance and display.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description of the present invention that the present mounting means for articles of jewelry satisfies a long felt want for an efficient and practical approach for mounting articles of jewelry without impairing the display of the ornamental structure mounted thereby.

It will be also apparent from the foregoing that the present device having means for mounting articles ofjewelry provides great versatility, great efficiency in mounting, and simplicity ofconstruction affording use in conventional jewelry elements without any substantial degree of modification.

The various elements of the present device for mounting an article ofjewelry unless otherwise indicated may be secured to adjoining elements by any suitable means such as molding, welding, soldering or the like. In addition, auxiliary support for reinforcement members may also be included as part of the device as may be required.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined.

What l claim is:

1. in combination, a mounting, an article of jewelry mounted therein, said mounting comprising a mortise for rearwardly receiving said article of jewelry, said mortise having side retaining surfaces which limit the complete penetration of said article ofjewelry therethrough, and integral leg elements projecting about the base of the mortise, said leg elements having L-shaped configurations, one leg of each of said L- shaped configuration joining said base, and wherein the article of jewelry has a multisurfaced base portion supportable by said leg elements, said one leg of each element being twisted pivotally, the other leg of said L-shaped configuration clamp ing by direct contact the article ofjewelry within the mortise.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the leg elements are four in number.

3. The combination of claim I wherein the mounting is part ofa finger ring. 

1. In combination, a mounting, an article of jewelry mounted therein, said mounting comprising a mortise for rearwardly receiving said article of jewelry, said mortise having side retaining surfaces which limit the complete penetration of said article of jewelry therethrough, and integral leg elements projecting about the base of the mortise, said leg elements having L-shaped configurations, one leg of each of said L-shaped configuration joining said base, and wherein the article of jewelry has a multisurfaced base portion supportable by said leg elements, said one leg of each element being twisted pivotally, the other leg of said L-shaped configuration clamping by direct contact the article of jewelry within the mortise.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the leg elements are four in number.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the mounting is part of a finger ring. 